Monday, January 16, 2017

When I first saw the new Seasonal Expressions 1 book, I instantly fell in love the the "Hello Lovely" paper line. It features roses...which in my world...never gets old...and a beautiful, or shall I say lovely, color palette. This combination made creating these workshop layouts super easy for me. The first three of the five layouts are based on layouts offered by Close To My Heart...with my own twist, of course, and the other two are based on sketches...but otherwise, my creations. This line is just so gorgeous on it's own that there really was no need for extra embellishments beyond what already comes with the Workshop Your Way kit.

Here are the five layouts that we will be making on January 7th.

LAYOUT #1 - Beautiful In this layout, I will show you how to make a faux bow.

LAYOUT #2 - Love

LAYOUT #3 - Best Day This layout is based on a layout offered by CTMH, but I flipped the pages 1/4 turn and what a difference 1/4 turn can make! I'll also show you how to utilize the Picture My Life cards in a fun and unique way.

LAYOUT #5 - Non-titled I chose not to title this one, but I think it's so pretty on its own that it doesn't really even need one. However, it would be easy enough to use the Cricut to cut your own title that fits your photos, or of course, stamps or stickers. This layout features the "Hello Lovely - Cardmaking" stamp and thin cut and all of the workshop attendees will get to play with the Shin Han markers to color in the flowers.

I ended up redoing the coloring on the stamped flowers, as I initially just played and threw it on the layout without giving too much attention to the quality. :( That's what happens, I guess, when you're in a hurry to get the photos done.

Note: I took photos outside, but unfortunately I think the colors got washed out. I've included a photo blow of the paper, so you can get a truer representation of the colors.

Would you like to make these layouts? There's several ways...

LOCAL WORKSHOP:
When: Saturday, February 4th at 10 a.m.
Where: Rockledge, Florida (I'll send you the address when you register.)
Cost: $36
This workshop kit consists of one Hello Lovely! Workshop Your Way kit (#G1119), which includes...

Digital file with full-color photos, cutting and assembly instructions, with a private link to additional photos (so you can zoom in on the photos to better see details).

Please note that the White Daisy cardstock used in the above photos are to represent suggested photo placement. Extra paper for this purpose does not come with the kit. They are strictly used to provide a suggestion for photo arrangements. However, you may purchase extra sheets of White Daisy cardstock at the workshop for $0.50 a sheet if you want to make your own photo templates.

If you would like to attend in person, simply send me an email HERE. Spaces are filling up quickly!

WORKSHOP KIT TO GO:
Can't make it to the local workshop? No problem. If you are local, I can still prepare a kit for you and you can pick it up at my house at no additional charge. If you aren't local, I will be happy to ship it anywhere in the US, via USPS. Just email me with your zip code and I'll send you an invoice (via Paypal) with the exact shipping or if you already have the supplies, you can simply place any $20 order on my website and I will email the cutting file to you for at no additional charge. Just communicate with me that you would like the file and I'll get it out to you within 24 hours. (Note: the cutting file will not be ready until the last week in January.)

PRECUT WORKSHOP KIT TO GO:
This workshop kit is precut and sorted for your convenience and includes only the precut papers and needed ribbon and embellishments to complete the layouts as shown. However, you will receive a full complements package. You will also receive a digital file with assembly instructions and a private link to additional photos. Cost is $46. If you would like a precut kit shipped, simply email me with your zip code and I will send you a Paypal Invoice with exact shipping costs. Please note that the White Daisy cardstock used in the above photos to represent photo placement does not come with the kit. They are strictly used to provide a suggestion for photo arrangements.

You will still need the following supplies to complete the layouts as shown:

Adhesives of choice, including foam tape (#Z1151 or #Z2060), and glue dots (#Z2089)

INSTRUCTIONS ONLY (for consultants)
If you would like to receive an e-file with the full-color instructions & cutting guide, along with a consultant release to enable you to use my my designed layouts for your own business, there are now two ways to get it. 1) Simply join the current month's Shopping Gathering Link and make a $20 purchase on my personal CTMH SHOPPING WEBSITE. Next, email me to let me know that you would like the instructions and your oba and I will email you to them at no additional charge. 2) Both consultants in and outside the U.S. can purchase only the e-files. This month the cost is only $8. (Note: Instructions will be available the last week in January.) Just click the Paypal link below and be sure to add your oba in the comment section.

Friday, January 06, 2017

The new Close To My Heart Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book went live on January 1st. As a consultant we get to preview the new products a full month prior to the live day...just one of the many reasons why I love being a Close To My Heart Consultant.

With over 25 participants in this blog hop, you are sure to see lots of new products featured in the new book. I personally love just about everything in it, but I must say that my favorite has to be the Hello Lovely collection. As my best friend will tell you...it's got my name written all over it. I love the softness of the color palette and of course the flowers. I love it so much that I decided to make this the featured paper collection for my next workshop. Everything you see here is going to be part of it, but I'll break down that information in a day or two. For now, just sit back and drool...I mean, enjoy. ;) The hop makes a circle, so if you are starting here just continue until you make your way back and you will have made it through them all. If you have already started and are coming fromMichelle Rowley's blog, "Everygreen Memories", then you are on the right track.

If you would like to add this beautiful paper collection to your crafting supplies, be sure to contact your Close To My Heart Independent Consultant. If you don't already have a consultant, I'd love to be yours. You can find this collection here on my website. Also, if you don't already have a copy of the SE1 catalog, or even the Annual Inspirations Idea book, you can view them online here or contact your consultant (or me) to get a hard copy. And as always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

If you have time, take a moment or two to check out the rest of my blog. If you enjoy your visit, then please consider "Following Me", signing up to receive blog updates, and/or leaving a comment (we all love comments...the nice ones anyway), then be sure to continue along on the hop by heading over to my fellow consultant, Vickie ODell'sblog, "HeARTful Stamper" and check out her project. You can find a complete list of all of the participating consultants here.

Wednesday, January 04, 2017

Several things come to mind when I think of January. One, it's the end of the holiday craziness. Two, its' the end of my break from winter break (sadness) and three, it's he halfway point of the school year (come on summer). However, January is also National Papercrafting Month. Many...even most...have no idea, but if you're a scrapbooker, stamper, cardmaker, art journalist or any kind of paper artist...you are most likely aware. Close To My Heart is aware and they've offered a truly incredible kit to celebrate the occasion. The kit is called "Welcome Home" and includes all the supplies needed to create the a beautiful floral wreath that you can customize and hang on your front door, in your craftroom or any other location in your home. I've customized mine to hang in my craftroom and to display at crops and vendor events.

Isn't this just gorgeous?! Now, as usual, I have a hard time not inking and shaping and doing extras, and this project was no different. I used tools I had on hand, like my bone folder, an embossing stylus, a quilling and piercing tool to help shape most of the flowers. I sponged white, thistle, pomegranate, pink, peacock and topiary inks on the flowers and most of the leaves to provide more depth.

Here you can see how I used white ink on the edges of the bottom succulent leaves and pomegranate on the edges of the outside leaves on the large succulent and on all leaves of the smallest one (at top of photo). I used my piercing tool to create the creases in the leaves, too. I used the gold foil center for the large flower, but pulled out some gold glitter gems from my "Hello Lovely" workshop-your-way for the bottom succulent (I gotta have a little bling bling).

The kit shows all of the flowers fairly flat and not inked and it is still beautiful. Of course, I have a hard time taking the easy route. I'm not gonna lie, all of the inking and shaping took a lot of time, but I think it was so worth it.

I used Thistle ink on the outer most leaves of the succulent on the left and Pixie on the roses. They are different colors, because I "thought" the sponge I used was clean...I even tested it on a piece of white paper, but I guess when I inked it up in Pixie it reactivated the ink on the sponge an make the pink look more purple. Thank goodness the old ink was a coordinating color. You'll also notice that I didn't ink the outer petals, because I noticed that any color on white roses tends to be at the center of the flower and the pure white is on the outer petals. Yes...I looked up pictures of both roses and succulents to try and create more realistic shapes and colors.

Here's what the kit includes....

Die cuts to make 12 flowers

27 leaf die cuts

1 banner

1 wood grain circle die

1 heavy chipboard wreath ring

2 sheets of gold foil letters and dots (for flower centers)

Full-color instruction page

You only have to supply the adhesive (I used liquid glass) to create the wreath and if you want...inks and shaping tools.

Now you may wonder, "How do I get one for myself?!" Well, let me tell you. ;)

Sunday, January 01, 2017

With over 25 participants in this blog hop, you are sure to find lots of wonderful ideas on using this month's Close To My Heart's Stamp of the Month. The hop makes a circle, so if you are starting here just continue until you make your way back and you will have made it through them all. If you have already started and are coming from my friend,Alyson Mayo's blog, "Create with Alyson", then you are on the right track. Of course, this set screams Valentine's Day, but with the flowers, love and thank you sentiments, it certainly has multiple uses. The first thing that caught my eye was the floral cluster. I immediately knew how I wanted to use it...in the corner of a clean and simple card and I must say, even thought I'm not the world's best user of alcohol markers, I'm really pleased how it came out.

I had really intended to stop with the card, but then I thought it would be fun to show how to take the same idea used in the card to create a scrapbook page. I'm sure you can see the similarities with the flower cluster in the corner, a sentiment in the bottom right and connected with doodle lines, but the page kind of took a life of its own. LOL I came very close multiple times of just quitting and trashing it, but I just kept playing and eventually, I ended up with a layout that I like so much that I decided to frame in our Designed Decor Shadow Box (which is on clearance) so I can hang it in our home.

Pick up your own Stamp of the Month for only $17.95 OR get it for only $5 with a $50 purchase! Be sure to contact your Close To My Heart Independent Consultant to get yours. If you don't already have a consultant, I'd love to be yours. You can find details on the "Stamp of the Month" by clicking on the "Promotions" tab at the top of the page or purchase your SOTM here. Of course, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

If you have time, take a moment or two to check out the rest of my blog. If you enjoy your visit, then please consider "Following Me", signing up to receive blog updates, and/or leaving a comment (we all love comments...the nice ones anyway), then be sure to continue along on the hop by heading over to my fellow consultant, Donna Digby'sblog, "DAT'S My Style" and check out her creation. You can find a complete list of all of the participating consultants here.